Pontiac Sunbird

Thank you for contacting the Center
for Auto Safety (CAS) about your Cavalier, Sunfire, Skyhawk, Firenza,
2000, Sunbird, or Cimarron (GM's J-Car). CAS has received numerous complaints
on sudden acceleration, peeling paint, excessive oil and/or coolant consumption,
poor engine performance, power steering loss, and transmission failure.
Introduced in 1982 with the Cavalier, Cimarron, Firenza, Skyhawk and Pontiac
2000, the J-car holds the distinction of being the only platform shared
across all five GM car divisions. GM dropped the Cimarron and Firenza
after the 1988 model year followed by the Skyhawk after 1989. In 1995,
the Sunbird became the Sunfire just as the 2000 became the Sunbird in
1985.

The reliability of GM's J-Cars is much
worse than average. In fact, their reliability has been so poor that all
but the 1995 Cavalier and Sunfire made Consumer
Reports' list of "Used Cars to Avoid" since 1988. The Car Book
lists steering, fuel system, and brakes as the three most common J-Car
complaints. Engine problems, including cracked heads, surge or racing,
leaking rear main oil seals, and piston knock, have also plagued these
vehicles.

GM's door-mounted "automatic" belt system
on pre-1995 vehicles cannot prevent ejection if the door opens while driving
or in a crash. CAS petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) to recall faulty "automatic" lap-shoulder belts and door
latches on 5.5 million 1987-90 GMvehicles including
the 1990 Cavalier, Sunbird. NHTSA denied CAS' petition. In 1992, more
than 50,000 1991 Cavaliers/Sunbirds were recalled for defective shoulder
belt guide loops.

Uncontrolled acceleration is
a notorious J-Car problem that has resulted in 5 recalls of more than
300,000 vehicles. GM sent bulletins to dealers acknowledging power
steering defects in 1982-88 J-Cars, secretly extended the P/S
warranty to 5 years/50,000 miles and paid for post-warranty repairs for
those owners who complain loudly. An expensive defect on 1985-92 J-Cars
is peeling paint. At CAS' request, GM agreed to pay for
complete repainting for paint peel and delamination through six years
and unlimited mileage but, in March 1995, GM cut this back to 5 years.

You'll find information on these and other J-Car defects
below and what you can do about them plus a
complaint box. Your information will help
us build a strong case against GM on the defects we know about and help
us spot new ones.

We need you to support the Center for Auto Safety in our
fight for consumer rights and against poorly designed and unsafe cars.
Your contribution is tax-deductible
and entitles your to our quarterly newsletter, Lemon Times.
Please submit the membership form along with
your contribution and complaint. If you contribute $35 or more, we will send you the current edition of The Ultimate Car Book, by Jack Gillis.
Every home should have this invaluable consumer guide.